My Holiday Top 10 Suggestions

Ho, Ho, Ho...merry...spending!! Are you ready? Are you ready for the holiday rush? Are you ready to charge into the store and shop your wallets empty? Ready to stand in line at the checkout? Ready to wait out in the cold in the dark Friday morning to get first dibs on the post-Thanksgiving sales?

Here are my top 10 tips:

1. Have a budget! Better yet, have a cash budget--one that does not rely on using credit cards. After all, what good is a sale if you are paying months and months of finance charges?! Have you not erased the benefit of getting the sale if you're paying MiseryCard your savings and more in finance charges? Creative financing didn't work for the banks so what makes you think it will work for you?

2. Go out with a shopping list. Better yet, use the list you had your gift recipients make (of course, cut it in half and toss the more expensive half--lol). Just like you should while grocery shopping, a list allows you to stay within your budget, and you won't forget Jr.'s number 7 video game on his list. Don't stray from that list. Ask yourself if little Nadira really needs that pink and white, zebra-striped, frilly, tasseled Betsy Johnson purse you just walked by sitting there teasing your visual mommy senses--then remind yourself that little Dejanee doesn't even like purses!

3. Wear comfortable shoes. You can't shop 'til your wallet drops if you can't walk longer than 30 minutes.

4. Carry a purse that sits on our shoulders--you'll need that second hand. Guys, carry a wallet that's not afraid of getting lighter right before your eyes.

5. Shop online. You can get refurbished Ipods, overstock bedding, discount books and all with free shipping, no long checkout lines and no crazy parent trying to knock you out because you got the last Guitar Hero bundled with 3 other random games they will never play.

6. Buy a gift card...they'll thank you for it when they think of that magenta flannel pajama set you got them last year.

7. Stop writing 'From Santa' on the gift tags...they can tell it's your handwriting!!

8. Wrap the gifts before Christmas Eve.

9. Take a day off just to rest after New Year's Day, after the kids are back in school. You'll need it and deserve it.

10. Remember the reason for the season---food, glorious food!